June 18, 2014 League 1 Ontario--Internacional de Toronto vs Durham United FC (from League 1 Ontario website)

  
Internacional de Toronto 1 - Durham United FC 4
. Thu Jun 19 
Written By: Cromie, Chris  

Durham United FC got their League1 Ontario Cup campaign off to a prosperous start with a 4-1 victory over 
Internacional de Toronto at the OSA centre turf. For Durham, it was a crucial bounce back from their 
crushing 5-2 league defeat at the hands of Vaughan Azzurri last weekend. Internacional, on the other 
hand, are now without a win in their first four games.

For the initial twenty minutes of this game, it looked certain that Internacional's fortunes were due 
for change. With midfielder Joshua Portillo pulling the strings, Inter enjoyed a flurry of early chances. 
Afforded the luxury of space, Portillo found Manuel Ramos early on with a delectable through ball that 
was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins. In the seventeenth minute, Sergio Ribadeneira broke through 
on goal only to fire directly at the goalkeeper. 

The first goal of the game came decidedly against the run of play, as Durham's Shaquille Agard was bundled 
over in the box. A composed Nicholas Goddard dispatched the ball to the 'keeper's right to give United 
a twenty-seventh minute lead. It didn't last. Within three minutes, Internacional's Ribadeneira was brought 
down in the area by Christopher Mitchell, and Diego Abascal's thirtieth minute conversion from the spot 
restored parity. 

The instant response was merely a testament to the fast and furious pace of the game. There was more to come. 
The ball broke to Durham's Joseph Roccasalva on the edge of the box in the thirty-sixth minute and, with 
a flick of his right boot, he placed it beautifully into the bottom right corner to restore United's lead. 
Internacional were furious. They were convinced Miguel Gallo had been fouled in the build-up. Despite the 
protests, the goal stood, and from that moment on Durham became irresistible. 

Two minutes before the half, a gorgeous pass by Kyle Laborde gave Agard the space and time to rifle his 
shot goal-ward. Internacional goalkeeper Jobe Baiza did well to parry the effort but had to watch from 
the turf as Le Rohne Young got up well  to head home the rebound. 

Down 3-1 at the restart, Internacional came out of the gates flying. Portillo dropped a shoulder and 
dribbled inside the box before firing wide in the fifty-first minute. Sixty seconds later, Ribadeneira 
was denied again by the keeper. A cacophony of missed chances would come back to haunt Inter. 

The match was essentially put to bed by the sixty-seventh minute through a Jordan Dover goal, but the 
Durham United man will have team mate Shaquille Agard to thank. Agard picked the ball up on the inside 
right, dribbled solo across the field to the left taking two men with him, then slid a pass to Dover free 
in the six yard box. Baiza parried the first shot but couldn't get back up to stop the rebound. 

Three minutes later, Durham were carrying their 4-1 lead with ten men. Goalkeeper Benjamin Cowman 
challenged Hugo Vaz in the air, but found himself outside of his box with the ball in his hands. 
Automatic red. If the difference in numbers was supposed to serve as a rallying cry for Internacional, 
they certainly didn't realize it.

Durham promptly closed ranks and invited their opponents to pressure. When Portillo scuffed an open shot 
inside the six yard box in the eighty-ninth minute, it wasn't so much a missed chance as symbolic 
of Inter's failure in front of goal all night. 

Durham United take their midweek success to Kingston against the Clippers on Saturday as they return 
to league play. Internacional's quest for their first win of the season continues against 
Toronto FC Academy on Sunday. 

back to League 1 Ontario 2014 menu

.

.